PHILADELPHIA — If it wasn’t for Vic Fangio, Zack Baun would be just another special teams standout getting rotational snaps as a pass rusher. The Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator had other plans for Baun.
Fangio saw Baun learning a new position, and excelling in that role. The Eagles allocated their salary cap space to premium positions like quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and pass rusher. Philadelphia had to get creative at other positions — linebacker being one of them.
Enter Baun, a player Fangio thought could outplay his one-year, $1.5 million contract. Instead of being a special teams standout, Fangio had Baun play inside linebacker.
“When I evaluate players, there’s no check box, things you check off. You just watch the tape, watch the movement patterns, watch the player play,” Fangio said. “And [Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman] brought him up to me first, but he had a vision for him as a backup outside linebacker/special teams demon.”
Fangio deserves a pat on the back for Baun, who is the only player in the NFL with 80-plus tackles, two-plus sacks and an interception this season. Baun was awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10, finishing with eight tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He’s only the second off-ball linebacker for the Eagles to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors since 2000, joining Jeremiah Trotter Sr. in 2005.
“After I watched it, I said no, I think he’s an inside linebacker,” Fangio said. “Luckily it hit.”
Over Baun’s past three games, he has 30 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception. It shouldn’t be a surprise that his play is why the Eagles have allowed the fewest yards per game (213.7) and yards per play (3.9) in the NFL. The Eagles defense has thrived with Baun, as it is tied for fourth in the league in points per game allowed (17.9), second in yards per game allowed (274.1) and second in yards per play allowed (4.8). Philadelphia is also third in red zone defense (42.3%) and pass yards per game allowed (173.4), another product of Baun’s impact on a revamped defense.
When the Eagles had their Super Bowl appearances this century, the defense was paced by excellent linebacker play — Jeremiah Trotter in 2004, Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks in 2017, and T.J. Edwards in 2022. Baun may be leading the defense to another one at his current pace.
“I think I said in here a while back, it’s hard to play good defense in the NFL without good linebacker play,” Fangio said. “And that is 100 percent true.”
The New York Jets have hit rock bottom. They are 3-7 through their first 10 games of 2024 after a 31-6 faceplant against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10. The 25-point defeat was their worst loss of the season as their Aaron Rodgers-led attack totaled its fewest points (six) and yards (207) in any game this season.
Rodgers threw for season-lows in passing yards (151) and yards per pass attempt (4.3) with his 4.3 yards per attempt serving as the third-fewest passing yards per attempt in any game of his 20-season career, minimum 15 pass attempts. His top target, Davante Adams, caught six of his season-high 13 targets for 31 receiving yards, which amounted to the six-time Pro Bowler’s fewest receiving yards among 44 career games with at least 12 targets. Defensively, the Jet surrendered their most yards per play allowed (7.1) and first downs allowed (28) in a game this season.
Entering 2024 coming off an Achilles tear in 2023, Rodgers spoke of wanting to play into the 2025 season. Have the struggles through the first 10 games of the year changed his stance on his football future?
“Not really, not for the negative, no. Not really” Rodgers said Wednesday, via SportsNet New York, when asked if New York’s 3-7 start has impacted his thought to play next season.
When asked directly if still wants to play in 2025, Rodgers had a similarly short but direct answer.
“I think so, yeah,” he said.
Through 10 games, Rodgers is off to his worst 10-game start in his 17 seasons as an NFL starting quarterback in terms of losses (seven), his team’s scoring offense (17 points per game), passing yards per attempt, passing yards per game (225.8) and passer rating (86.8).
AARON RODGERS CAREER RANKS THROUGH 10 GAMES OF A SEASON CAREER RANK* Losses
The Jets are also the only team in the NFL this season that hasn’t yet scored at least 25 points in a game. However despite all the doom and gloom, New York is only two games back of the Denver Broncos (5-5) for the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot.
Dallas Cowboys three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons said he and the defense have to “be the light, even when it’s dark as f–k” with the Cowboys’ injury-plagued offense struggling. Parsons backed up his talk with two sacks and a forced fumble of Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, but Dallas as a team was disappointing in a 34-6 home loss.
Parsons is now turning out the lights on his availability to the media, posting Monday that he will “just eat the fine” for skipping NFL-mandated, weekly media sessions.
“Loll damm yeah ima just eat the fine for now on! Because the way yall twist words and flip them around for content is nasty work!” Parsons posted on X.
Parsons stayed true to his word by not talking to the media on Wednesday. That’s the day the star pass rusher typically speaks to reporters every week, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue to do so for the remainder of the season.
Loll damm yeah ima just eat the fine for now on! Because the way yall twist words and flip them around for content is nasty work!
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) November 11, 2024 Parsons’ decision comes on the heels of his comments about head coach Mike McCarthy’s job security following the Eagles loss, which came after team owner and general manager Jerry Jones openly spoke about his criteria for making coaching changes. Parsons’ words sounded like he was bashing McCarthy, who is in the final season of his Cowboys contract, despite his intent to say he felt more for players like perennial Pro Bowler lineman Zack Martin during Dallas’ 3-6 start to the year.
McCarthy ended up taking time out of his Monday morning to chat 1-on-1 with Parsons to resolve the situation, and they both left their meeting with an understanding that Parsons wasn’t trying to undermine his head coach.
Parsons missing his league-mandated media sessions could result in larger and larger sums of money missing from his pockets each week he opts to boycott them. It remains to be seen if the superstar edge rusher will then continue to avoid talking to the media.
Now that we are 10 weeks into the NFL regular season, all 32 clubs are dealing with injuries. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to his hamstring injury, tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Sam LaPorta are dealing with knee and shoulder injuries that are worth keeping an eye on and Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has already been ruled out for the second straight game due to a shoulder injury.
Let’s take a look at how each NFL team is faring from a health standpoint. Below, we will break down the midweek NFL injury report for Week 11, and analyze the final injury report for “Thursday Night Football” between the Commanders and Eagles.
All NFL sports betting odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) WAS: LB Nick Bellore (knee), CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), K Austin Seibert (hip) OUT; OT Brandon Coleman (shoulder), OT Cornelius Lucas (ankle), OT Andrew Wylie (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE PHI: NONE Lattimore is still not ready to make his Commanders debut, as he missed practice all week with his hamstring issue, but running back Brian Robinson Jr. is off the injury report and will return to the lineup. Seibert will not kick Thursday night due to his hip injury, meaning Zane Gonzalez will replace him in the lineup. There’s definitely concern for Washington’s offensive line, but Coleman, Lucas and Wylie were all limited participants in practice each session this week.
Every Eagle is set to fly this week. Linebacker Nakobe Dean (groin) tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle), cornerback Darius Slay (ankle) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) all missed practice on Monday, but they are good to go for Thursday.
Green Bay Packers (-6.5) at Chicago Bears Defensive lineman Colby Wooden was the only Packer to miss practice on Wednesday. He sat with a shoulder injury. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), defensive lineman Kenny Clark (toe), running back Josh Jacobs (quadricep), running back MarShawn Lloyd (ankle/hamstring), offensive lineman Josh Myers (wrist) and safety Evan Williams (hamstring) were all limited participants.
Offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie (calf), safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion), offensive tackle Teven Jenkins (ankle), defensive back Tarvarius Moore (concussion) and defensive end Montez Sweat (ankle) all missed practice for the Bears on Wednesday. Offensive tackle Braxton Jones, linebacker Noah Sewell, defensive end Darrell Taylor and offensive tackle Darnell Wright were all limited due to knee injuries.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions (-13) Lawrence has already been ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Other than him, running back Tank Bigsby (ankle) was the only Jaguar to miss practice on Wednesday. Cornerback Tyson Campbell (shoulder) offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland (ankle), wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder), running back D’Ernest Johnson (hamstring), offensive lineman Blake Hance (knee), pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen (shoulder), offensive lineman Brandon Scherff (knee), defensive tackle Maason Smith (ankle), wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and safety Daniel Thomas (hamstring) were all limited participants.
LaPorta was the only Lion to miss practice due to his shoulder injury. Offensive tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) were limited participants.
Minnesota Vikings (-6) at Tennessee Titans Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (right hand), running back Aaron Jones (ribs), outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy (knee), tight end Josh Oliver (wrist/hand), offensive tackle Cam Robinson (foot) and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (hip) were limited participants on Wednesday.
For the Titans, pass rusher Arden Key (back), cornerback Roger McCreary (knee), cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quad) and offensive tackle Leroy Watson (back) did not practice.
Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins (-8) Tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle), cornerback Nate Hobbs (ankle), center Andre James (ankle) and center Cody Whitehair (ankle) missed practice on Wednesday for the Raiders. Offensive tackle Kolton Miller was limited with an ankle injury.
For the Dolphins, offensive tackle Terron Armstead (rest/knee), cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion), wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) and offensive lineman Robert Jones (knee) missed practice. Offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn was a limited participant with quad and knee injuries.
Los Angeles Rams (-4.5) at New England Patriots Rams offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (ankle), defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (neck) and offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (ankle) missed practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Byron Young was limited with a knee issue.
Defensive back Marcellas Dial Jr. (concussion), defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (neck), linebacker Sione Takitaki (knee) and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. (foot) missed practice on Wednesday for the Patriots. Safety Kyle Dugger (ankle), defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale (abdomen), linebacker Christian Elliss (abdomen), tight end Hunter Henry (foot), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (shoulder) and safety Marte Mapu (neck) were all limited participants.
Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints (-1) Browns offensive guard Joel Bitonio was limited on Wednesday with a pectoral injury. For the Saints, offensive guard Lucas Patrick (ankle), linebacker Pete Werner (hand) and running back Jamaal Williams (groin) did not practice. Defensive back J.T. Gray (hip), safety Jordan Howden (shoulder), center Erik McCoy (groin), cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) and wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) were limited.
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets (-4) The Colts had a walkthrough on Wednesday. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (foot) and offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) were estimated to have not practiced, while linebacker E.J. Speed would have been limited with a knee injury.
For the Jets, wide receiver Davante Adams (wrist/illness), cornerback Brandin Echols (concussion), offensive lineman Jake Hanson (hamstring), linebacker C.J. Mosley (neck), offensive tackle Tyron Smith (neck) and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas (knee) all missed practice on Wednesday. Cornerback Michael Carter II (back), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (knee), cornerback D.J. Reed (hip), linebacker Chazz Surratt (heel) and offensive guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) were all limited participants.
Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) and linebacker Kyle Van Noy (illness) missed practice on Wednesday. Tight end Isaiah Likely was limited due to a hamstring injury.
For the Steelers, wide receiver Van Jefferson (quadricep), running back Najee Harris (ankle), cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) and linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) missed practice. In what is good news, linebacker Nick Herbig was a full participant with his hamstring issue.
Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos (-2.5) Defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham (pectoral), tight end Charlie Woerner (concussion), defensive lineman James Smith-Williams (tibia), cornerback Antonio Hamilton (pectoral) and cornerback Dee Alford (hamstring) all missed practice on Wednesday for the Falcons. Defensive lineman Zach Harrison (Achilles), offensive lineman Ryan Neuzil (calf), offensive guard Chris Lindstrom (knee), linebacker Troy Andersen (knee), linebacker JD Bertrand (concussion), running back Tyler Allgeier (quadricep), cornerback Mike Hughes (neck), quarterback Kirk Cousins (right shoulder/right elbow) and linebacker Lorenzo Carter (concussion) were all limited participants. Wide receiver Drake London was a full participant with his hip injury.
Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (elbow/rest) and safety Brandon Jones (abdomen) were limited participants in practice on Wednesday.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (-6.5) Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (groin), tight end Brady Russell (foot) and defensive end Leonard Williams (foot) did not practice on Wednesday. Offensive tackle Abraham Lucas and linebacker Boye Mafe were limited participants due to knee injuries. In good news, star wide receiver DK Metcalf was a full participant with his knee issue.
For the 49ers, defensive end Nick Bosa (hip), defensive tackle Kevin Givens (groin), tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and punter Mitch Wishnowsky (back) did not practice on Wednesday. Wide receiver Chris Conley (hamstring), offensive guard Jon Feliciano (knee) and running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) were limited participants.
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (-2.5) Defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee), running back Isiah Pacheco (ankle) and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster were limited participants in Chiefs practice on Wednesday.
For Buffalo, offensive tackle Spencer Brown (ankle), wide receiver Keon Coleman (wrist) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Matt Milano (biceps) and wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) were limited participants.
Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie (hip), offensive tackle Orlando Brown (knee/fibula), defensive tackle B.J. Hill (knee) and wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin) did not practice on Wednesday. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck), wide receiver Tee Higgins (quadricep) and linebacker Logan Wilson (quadricep) were limited participants.
Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack missed practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury. Pass rusher Joey Bosa (hip), running back Gus Edwards (ankle), cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring), linebacker Daiyan Henley (illness), defensive back Deane Leonard (hamstring), offensive tackle Trey Pipkins III (ankle) and tight end Stone Smartt (ankle) were limited participants.
That sound you hear this morning is applause across the entire NFL community.
The NFL Scouting Combine will return to Indianapolis for 2026, sources tell CBS Sports, continuing a nearly four-decade partnership with the city that has successfully hosted the event that is essential to NFL Draft preparation.
Members of the NFL community — from medical professionals to coaches and scouts — have been overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the combine in Indianapolis as the league has considered the idea of taking the show on the road in recent years. In 2022, the two sides agreed to a two-year extension, and this is now the second consecutive one-year extension.
Indianapolis has hosted the event since 1987. Its downtown location has been the cradle of the combine, with several hotels, Lucas Oil Stadium and access to local hospitals for the medical portion of the combine.
“Indianapolis and the NFL Combine have a proud history together, so we’re thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Visit Indy, the Indianapolis Colts, and the local community for this 2026 event,” NFL EVP Peter O’Reilly said in a statement provided to CBS Sports. “Our partners in Indy have successfully hosted the football evaluation process for decades, and recently, we’ve collectively worked to grow and evolve the in-person fan experience, bringing tens of thousands of fans closer to the league’s future stars.”
The upcoming combine will take place between Feb. 27 and March 2. The dates of the 2026 combine are not yet public, but it’s expected to be around the same time. Should the NFL expand to an 18-game schedule that moves the Super Bowl another week into February, it’s possible the combine would be pushed back a week into early March. But there’s no indication an 18th game will be added for the 2025 season to effect change.
Cities like Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Minneapolis have all expressed a desire to some varying degree to potentially host the combine in future years. It’s unclear if any city placed a bid with the league to wrest the combine from Indianapolis’s clutches.
The league has hoped to make the combine one of its tentpole media events for offseason eyeballs. The NFL has tinkered with the schedule of events in recent years in hopes of maximizing ratings.
The NFL has also had to deal with waning participation among the top players in recent years. More and more top picks have opted against running the 40-yard-dash or doing on-field drills, deciding instead to wait until their pro days in more familiar and controlled environments.
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!
It’s finally here: the AFC’s battle of Goliaths between Patrick Mahomes and his 9-0 Kansas City Chiefs and Josh Allen and his 8-2 Buffalo Bills has arrived in Week 11.
These two squads are their conference’s top two seeds through 10 weeks, and the two teams’ combined 17-2 record is the seventh-highest combined record entering a game in Week 11 or later since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, per CBS Sports Research. This is a game worth the hyperbole and excitement. It’s also a unique matchup given the way Mahomes and Allen have played this season.
Mahomes’ Chiefs are 9-0, but it’s by the lowest point differential (+58) of any 9-0 team in NFL history. Their high-flying offense that was once led by Mahomes’ cannon of a right arm and the explosive Tyreek Hill is still efficient but instead moves at a geriatric pace in the prism of NFL football. Kansas City is 11th in the league in scoring offense (24.3) while leading the NFL in in plays per game (67.0), plays per drive (6.8) and time of possession (33:01). That success is powered by clutching up on third down as the offense leads the NFL in third down conversion rate (52%) this season.
No offense in modern NFL history has moved slower than Kansas City in 2024: the Chiefs are averaging the most time of possession per drive (3:22) and plays per drive (6.8) by any team as far back as such data has been tracked, since 1991 for time of possession per drive and since 2000 for plays per drive. Their recent success is led by aging playmakers in running back Kareem Hunt (age 29), wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (age 32) and tight end Travis Kelce (age 35). Those three account for 68% of the Chiefs yards from scrimmage in three games as teammates, and all three were top four fantasy football producers in point per reception (PPR) leagues at their respective positions seven years ago in 2017, per CBS Sports Research.
Mahomes has played as inefficient as he ever has in his eight-season career with his fewest touchdown passes (12) and worst passer rating (90.3) through nine games of a season in his career, but the Chiefs keep zombie-walking their way to wins.
THE NFL TODAY will be live from Buffalo on Sunday. Fans can join the crew in Lot 6 at Highmark Stadium starting at Noon ET on Nov. 17.
The matchup that will decide the game Mahomes and the Chiefs offense are as consistent as it gets, and they will look essentially the same almost every week no matter what, for better or for worse. Here’s the deep dive on the side of the football that will determine the Week 11 outcome between the AFC’s two top teams: the Chiefs defense versus the Bills offense.
Kansas City blitzes on 36.9% of opponent dropbacks, the third-highest rate in the NFL this season, and they have the most defensive total expected points added (41.45) when blitzing in the entire league this season, per TruMedia. On the flip side, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has thrown for 705 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions vs. the blitz in 2024, which gives him the most passing touchdowns against the blitz in the entire league this season, per NFL Pro Insights.
A primary reason Allen has been elite against the blitz is because he altered his play style. Instead of playing like a deep ball hunting scrambler, he has thrown the ball quicker and shorter than ever before. That has resulted in him starting 2024 on a seven-game streak without an interception, the longest streak without an interception by a Bills starting quarterback ever. Allen has only six turnovers in 10 games this season after having 14 in his first 10 games of 2023. It’s also worth noting Buffalo’s stability up front: they are only one of two teams to have the same offensive line starting five in every game of 2024, along with the San Francisco 49ers per CBS Sports Research, and they have the most offensive snaps played of any five-man offensive line combination. The lineup of left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard David Edwards, center Connor McGovern, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and right tackle Spencer Brown has 547 offensive snaps together.
That change in play style plus offensive line stability is why Allen can and will stay ahead of the Chiefs four-time Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and his trademark blitz schemes to guide the Bills to narrow 27-24 home win in Week 11.
